Garment for wearing a breast prosthesis

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a garment for wearing breast prosthesis comprising a torso front panel forming a front side of the garment; a torso back panel forming a back side of the garment; and at least a first pocket for receiving the prosthesis; the front panel and the back panel being connected at several locations forming: a right arm opening at a first side having a right arm rim around the right arm opening; a left arm opening at a first side having a left arm rim around the left arm opening; a neck opening at the top having a neck rim around the neck opening; the first pocket being located at a first half of the front panel being connected to the front panel at or near at least a substantial part of an arm rim and to at least or near a substantial part of the neck rim.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a garment for wearing a breast prosthesis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,915 discloses a garment for wearing a breastprosthesis. The garment comprises one or two pockets in the breast areaof a facing that is attached to a bodice of the garment. In one or bothof the pocket areas may be placed a breast prosthesis, preferablyconstructed of a light-weight, flexible material. The pockets disclosedby U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,915 are small and locally connected to thefacing, in the breast area.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for a garment for wearing a breast prosthesis thatprovides more comfort in wearing, in particular for wearing siliconbased breast prosthesis. Such breast prosthesis are usually heavier thanlight-weight flexible material as discussed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,915.

The invention provides in a first aspect a garment for wearing a breastprosthesis comprising a torso front panel forming a front side of thegarment; a torso back panel forming a back side of the garment; and atleast a first pocket for receiving the prosthesis; the front torso paneland the back torso panel being connected at a first side, a second side,a first top side and a second top side, thus forming: a body opening atthe bottom; a right arm opening at a first side having a right arm rimaround the right arm opening; a left arm opening at a first side havinga left arm rim around the left arm opening; and a neck opening at thetop having a neck rim around the neck opening; the first pocket beinglocated at a first half of the front panel ranging from a first side ofthe front panel towards the middle of the front panel and the firstpocket being connected to the front panel at or near at least asubstantial part of an arm rim available at the first half of the frontpanel and to at least or near a substantial part of the neck rimavailable at the first half of the front panel.

Such garment is particularly suited for wearing silicon breastprosthesis by for example women who have undergone a mastectomy.Additionally or alternatively, such garment may also be worn by womenwho would like to augment their breast size and/or by men and/or womenin general.

By connecting the first pocket to the front panel at or near at least asubstantial part of the arm rim and the neck rim available near thelocation of the first pocket, the first pocket is directly connected toa supporting structure of the garment formed by the rims available atthe first half of the front panel. In this way, the force exerted uponthe garment by the breast prosthesis by virtue of the force of gravity,is linked to said rims which are directly supported by the shoulders ofthe wearer. Additionally, this prevents unwanted tension to the fabricof the garment, resulting in wrinkles in the garment that would occur ifthe pocket would be connected to the garment in the breast area. Thepocket is not necessarily connected to the full parts of the rims,though well enough to transfer forces well and even enough forcomfortably wearing the garment.

In an embodiment of the garment according to the invention, wherein thefirst pocket comprises a first pocket front panel; and a first pocketback panel; wherein the first pocket front panel is connected to thefirst pocket back panel over at least a substantial part of a bottomside of the first pocket front panel and the first pocket rear panel; afirst pocket side located at or near the middle of the front panel; asecond pocket side located at the side of the front panel; a first topside located at or near an arm rim available at the first half of thefront panel; and a second top side located at or near the neck rimavailable at the first half of the front panel.

This embodiment provides a high pocket, that allows smoothing of anycurves or ruptures in curves that may be caused by a transition from theprosthesis to the human body.

In a further embodiment of the garment according to the invention, thefirst pocket front panel is attached to the first pocket rear panel atthe same location of the first pocket where the first pocket isconnected to the front panel at the first top side and/or the second topside. This embodiment enables simplified construction of the garment.

Another embodiment of the garment according to the invention comprises aband of elastic material at or below the bottom of the first pocket thatwhen the garment is worn by a user is located around the torso of theuser. The band of elastic material enables the lower part of the pocketto be held close to the body. This is particularly advantageous duringactivity.

Yet a further embodiment of the invention comprises an inner rear panelconnected to the rear panel at or near the left arm rim available at therear panel; the right arm rim available at the rear panel; and the neckrim available at the rear panel; the inner rear panel being furtherconnected to the first pocket at the side of the garment below the armrim available at the first half of the front panel. This provides aseparate inset in a garment and enables the prosthesis to be worn closeto the human body. This embodiment is particular advantageous incombination with the previous embodiment.

Yet another embodiment of the invention comprises a second pocket beinglocated a second half of the front panel ranging from a second side ofthe front panel towards the middle of the front panel and the secondpocket being connected to the front panel at or near at least asubstantial part of an arm rim available at the second half of the frontpanel and to at least or near a substantial part of the neck rimavailable at the second half of the front panel.

The invention provides in a second aspect an inset for a garment forwearing a breast prosthesis comprising: a back panel; a first frontpanel; a second front panel being aligned with the first front panel andconnected to the first panel at the extremities of the front panels andthe middle of the front panels by at least one seam; The ensemble of thefirst front panel and the second front panel being connected to the backpanel at a first side, a second side, a first top side and a second topside, thus forming: a body opening at the bottom; a right arm opening ata first side having a right arm rim around the right arm opening; a leftarm opening at a first side having a left arm rim around the left armopening; and a neck opening at the top having a neck rim around the neckopening; wherein the seam is interrupted at a first location near thebottom of the right arm rim and at a second location near the bottom ofthe left arm rim to provide a first opening and a second opening,respectively, for receiving the breast prosthesis.

A separate inset enables existing garments to be adapted for wearingtogether with a breast prosthesis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and various embodiments thereof will now be furtherelucidated by means of Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the garment according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the garment according to theinvention; and

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the garment according to theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a shirt 100 as an embodiment of the garment according tothe invention. The shirt 100 has a front panel 112 and a back panel 114.The front panel 112 and the back panel 114 are preferably provided in asoft and elastic fabric like tricot-knitted cotton or other materialslike wool, nylon, rayon or other. The front panel 112 and the back panel114 are connected at the sides and at two locations at the top.

By virtue of these connections, a body opening 120 is provided at thebottom, a right arm opening 122 having a right arm rim 124 is providedat the right, a left arm opening 126 having a left arm rim 128 isprovided at the left and a neck opening 116 is provided at the tophaving a neck rim 118. Between the right arm opening 122 and the neckopening 116 a right shoulder strap 192 is provided and between the leftarm opening 126 and the neck opening 116 a left shoulder strap 194 isprovided by connecting the front panel 112 and the rear panel 114 at thetop at the sides of the neck opening 116.

The connections between the front panel 112 and the back panel 114 areprovided as seams. The front panel 112 and the back panel 114 can alsobe provided in one piece, with only seams at the top of the rightshoulder strap 192 and the left shoulder strap 194. In that case thetorso of the shirt 100 is manufactured as a sleeve. The front panel 112and the back panel 114 preferably have a substantial similar shape toproperly from the shirt 100.

Small variations between both shapes are possible to move connectingseams to the back or the front of the torso to provide a wider frontpanel or back panel, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, theneck rim 150 may be lower at either the front or the back. Similarly,variations can be made to the right arm rim 124 and the left arm rim 126and the elements for forming the right shoulder strap 192 and the leftshoulder strap 192. Most important is that the front panel 112 and theback panel 114 provide elements for forming a torso and shoulder straps.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the shirt 100 from back to front. As thecross-section in FIG. 2 shows only the right pocket, embodiments of theinvention will be further described in conjunction with FIG. 1 and FIG.2 simultaneously. The shirt 100 comprises an inset 130 comprising aright pocket 132 as a first pocket and a left pocket 134 as a secondpocket for carrying a breast prosthesis 200. The inset 130 comprises apocket front panel 174 and a pocket back panel 176 forming the rightpocket 132 by sewing the pocket front panel 174 and the pocket backpanel 176 together. The left pocket 134 is provided in a similar way.Optionally, additional pocket front and back panels may be providedspecifically for the left pocket 134.

The inset 130 comprises an optional elastic band 136 at the bottom ofthe inset 130. The elastic band 136 is intended to be worn around themiddle of a person wearing the shirt 100. The elastic band 136 beingattached at the bottom of the inset 130 allows the inset 130 comprisingthe breast prosthesis 200 to be worn comfortably and close to the body.Any unevenness of the body, be it natural, caused by tension exerted bythe elastic band or by both is on the other hand covered by the torsoformed by the front panel 112 and the back panel 114.

FIG. 1 discloses several seams provided in the shirt 100 to connect andin particular attach the insert 130 to the front panel 112 and/or therear panel 114. The dashed lines are locations where the pocket frontpanel 174 and the pocket back panel 176 are sewn together. Thedashed-dotted lines are locations where the pocket front panel 174 andthe pocket back panel 176 are sewn together and sewn to the front panel112, preferably by one and the same seam. The right pocket 132 is formedby sewing the pocket front panel 174 and the pocket back panel 176together with several seams. At the bottom of the right pocket, a rightbottom seam 142 is provided. The right bottom seam 142 preferably has acurved shape to properly accommodate the breast prosthesis 200. Theactual curvature of the right bottom seam may be adapted to the size ofa specific breast prosthesis to be inserted in the right pocket 132.

Alternatively, the pocket front panel 174 and the pocket back panel 176are provided in one piece of fabric that is folded at the bottom of theright pocket 132. In that case, the right bottom seam 142 may beomitted. In another alternative, a single piece of fabric is folded atthe top of the right pocket 132.

At the left side of the right pocket 132, a right middle seam 154 isprovided. Also the right middle seam 154 has a curved shape toaccommodate the breast prosthesis 200. At or near the right arm rim 124,a right arm rim seam 146 is provided. The right arm rim seam 146preferably follows the contours of the right arm rim 124 to camouflagethe right arm rim seam 146 and/or to provide a stable structure of theshirt 100. This applies as well to a right neck rim seam 150 provided ator near the neck rim 118.

Both the right arm rim seam 146 and the right neck rim seam 150 arelocated at or near the top of the right pocket 132, along the sides ofthe right shoulder strap 192. In this way, the right pocket 132 and theweight of the prosthesis 200 is supported by the right shoulder strap192 and in particular the right arm rim seam 146 and the right neck rimseam 150 as a supporting structure.

At the top of the right shoulder strap 192, a right shoulder seam 196may be provided. The right shoulder seam 196 does not necessarily haveto connect the pocket front panel 174 and the pocket back panel 176 orto connect the right pocket 132 to the front panel 112 and/or the backpanel 114; this is optional. Though the rights shoulder strap 192—aswell as the left shoulder strap 194—should be broad enough toconveniently wear the shirt 100 with at least one breast prosthesis 200inside, the width of the shoulder strap 192 is preferably small comparedto the right neck rim seam 150 and the right arm rim seam 146.

Furthermore, the pocket front panel 174 and the pocket back panel 176may be sewn to each other together with the elastic band 136 at a bandseam 138.

Close to the right arm rim 124 a right pocket opening 162 is providedfor putting the breast prosthesis 200 in the right pocket 132. At thislocation, the pocket front panel 174 and the pocket back panel 176 arenot sewn together. The pocket front panel 174 is sewn to the front panel112. The right pocket opening 162 may alternatively be provided atanother location of the right pocket 132, for example along the rightneck rim 150 or at the centre side of the right pocket 132. However,having the opening 162 at the lower part of the right arm rim 124results the opening 162 at a discrete location that is yet wellaccessible while the shirt 100 is worn, for example for adjusting theprosthesis 200 in the right pocket 132.

Thus, as indicated by the dashed-dotted lines in FIG. 1, the rightpocket 132 is connected and in particular attached, preferably bysewing, to the front panel 120 of the shirt 100 at the right half of thefront panel 120 at or at least near to a substantial part of the rightarm rim 124 and the neck rim 118 available at the right half of thefront panel 120. Furthermore, in this particular embodiment, the rightpocket 132 is at the top delimited by the same seams with which theright pocket 132 and with that the inset 130 is connected to the frontpanel 112. In another embodiment, the pocket front panel 174 and thepocket back panel 176 are connected at a location other than thelocation where the inset 130 and thus the first pocket 132 is connectedto the front panel 112 of the shirt 100.

As indicated in FIG. 2, the right pocket 132 may be provided with apadding 178 at the front side of the right pocket 132. An equivalentpadding may be provided in the left pocket 134. The padding 178 ispreferably sewn to the pocket front panel 174. The padding 178 ispreferably provided in a material that is flexible and resilient andthicker than the fabric in which the front panel 112 and the back panel114 are provided. Examples of such materials are foam or either naturalor synthetic rubber, provided in a thickness between 0.5 and 3millimetres and preferably between 1 and 2 millimetres. The padding 178may be connected and in particular attached to the pocket front panel174 at the inside the right pocket 132, at the outside of the rightpocket 132 or as an inset in the fabric of the front panel 176,replacing the fabric by the material of the padding 178.

The left pocket 134 is formed in a way similar to the way the rightpocket 132 is formed. At the left side of the inset 130, the pocketfront panel 174 and the pocket back panel 176 are sewn together withequivalent seams. At the bottom of the left pocket 134 a left bottomseam 144 and at the right side of the left pocket 134, a left middleseam 156 is provided. It is noted that in this particular embodimentthree more or less vertical seams are provided in the middle of theinset 130, as also an additional centre middle seam 158 is provided.

These three seams are provided to provide a stable structure for holdingthe breast prosthesis 200 properly at its place while the shirt 100 isworn. Additionally, these three middle seams provide a good distributionof forces that the breast prosthesis 200 (and/or an additional breastprosthesis to be inserted in the left pocket 134) exerted on the inset130 and with that on the shirt 100 over the shoulders of the wearer. Inan alternative, however, either the centre middle seam 158 may beomitted or alternatively the right middle seam 154 and the left middleseam 156 are omitted.

At the upper side of the left pocket 134, a left arm rim seam 148 and aleft neck rim seam 152 are provided in a way equivalent to that of theleft arm rim seam 146 and the right neck rim seam 150. Preferably, theleft neck seam 152 and the right neck seam 150 are provided as onesingle seam. At the top of the left shoulder strap 194, a left shoulderseam 198 may be provided. The left pocket 134 is accessible by means ofa left pocket opening 164.

FIG. 2 also discloses an optional inner rear panel 172 that forms partof the inset 130. This is further elucidated by means of FIG. 3. Theinner rear panel 172 is connected to the elastic band 136 at the bottomof the inner rear panel 172, to the pocket front panel 174 and/or thepocket rear panel 176 by means of a lower right seam 302 and a lowerleft seam 304. Alternatively, the inner rear panel 172 and either thepocket front panel 174 or the pocket rear panel 176 are formed in onepiece as discussed with the front panel 112 and the rear panel 114.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that with embodimentswithout the inner rear panel 172, the lower right seam 302 and the lowerleft seam 304 may be provided nonetheless to further connect the pocketfront panel 174 and the pocket rear panel 176. Preferably, the lowerright seam 302 and the lower left seam 304 do not connect the inset 130with the right pocket 132 and the left pocket 134 to the torso formed bythe front panel 112 and the rear panel 114 to enable the torso to beworn relatively loosely, whereas the inset 130 is worn closely to thebody for optimal wearing comfort.

At the top or upper side of the inner rear panel 172, the inner rearpanel 172 is connected to the back panel 114 by means of a rear neck rimseam 182, a rear right arm rim seam 184 and a rear left arm rim seam186. Preferably, the rear neck rim seam 182 is formed integrally withthe right neck rim seam 150 and the left neck rim seam 152 as one singleseam. Similarly, the rear right arm rim seam 184 is preferably formedintegrally with the right arm rim seam 146 as one single seam and therear left arm rim seam 186 is preferably formed integrally with the leftarm rim seam 148 as one single seam.

As discussed, the front panel 112 and the back panel 114 are preferablyprovided in tricot. Such tricot comprises preferably at least 95%cotton, where at least 98% cotton is preferred. The tricot compriseselastane as another part. It will be understood that also othermaterials may be used, though cotton and in particular high-qualitycotton is preferred for its soft nature. The panels comprised by theinset, the pocket from panel 174, the pocket back panel 176 and theinner rear panel 172 are preferably provided in the same material,though variations in thickness may be provided.

In particular, the inner rear panel 172 and the pocket front panel 174can be provided in a lighter quality tricot than the tricot of the frontpanel 112 and the back panel 114 to make the shirt 100 not too heavy.The pocket back panel 176 is preferably provided in a heavier andtherefore softer quality of tricot, for example a quality similar tothat of the front panel 112 and the back panel 114 as the pocket backpanel 176 is worn to the skin. A relatively high quality tricot is morecomfortable to wear.

Thus far, the sleeveless shirt 100 comprising the inset 130 has beendiscussed as an embodiment of the invention. The invention may also beembodied as a shirt with sleeves, either long or short or as a dresshaving a longer front panel and a longer back panel. Other variationslike a lower neck rim 150 at the back of the shirt 100 have already beendiscussed. Similarly, the shapes of the inner rear panel 172, the pocketfront panel 174 and the pocket back panel 176 can be adjusted to adaptto the shapes of the front panel 112 and the back panel 114. Suchadaptation is in particular relevant if the right pocket 132 and theleft pocket 134 are to be connected to the front panel at or near thevarious rims. It is noted that the inset 130 may be provided separatelyto adapt other garment to enable such garment to be worn with one or twobreast prosthesis.

The shirt 100 has been described as comprising the right pocket 132 andthe left pocket 134. Variations having only the right pocket 132 or onlythe left pocket 134 are possible as well, though from a viewpoint ofsupply flexibility, the variety with two pockets is preferred.

In the embodiments disclosed so far, the right pocket 132 and the leftpocket 134 are at the upper side delimited by the arm rim seams and theneck rim seams. Alternatively, the pockets may also be delimited at alower level by one or more additional seams instead of the arm rim seamsand the neck rim seams.

Expressions such as “comprise”, “include”, “incorporate”, “contain”,“is” and “have” are to be construed in a non-exclusive manner wheninterpreting the description and its associated claims, namely construedto allow for other items or components which are not explicitly definedalso to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed inbe a reference to the plural and vice versa.

In the description above, it will be understood that when an elementsuch as layer, region or substrate is referred to as being “on”, “onto”or connected to another element, the element is either directly on orconnected to the other element, or intervening elements may also bepresent.

Furthermore, the invention may also be embodied with less componentsthan provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one componentcarries out multiple functions. Just as well may the invention beembodied using more elements than depicted in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and/or FIG.3, wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodimentprovided are distributed over multiple components.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that variousparameters disclosed in the description may be modified and that variousembodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

It is stipulated that the reference signs in the claims do not limit thescope of the claims, but are merely inserted to enhance the legibilityof the claims.

In summary, the invention relates to a garment for wearing breastprosthesis comprising a torso front panel forming a front side of thegarment; a torso back panel forming a back side of the garment; and atleast a first pocket for receiving the prosthesis; the front panel andthe back panel being connected at several locations forming: a right armopening at a first side having a right arm rim around the right armopening; a left arm opening at a first side having a left arm rim aroundthe left arm opening; a neck opening at the top having a neck rim aroundthe neck opening; the first pocket being located at a first half of thefront panel being connected to the front panel at or near at least asubstantial part of an arm rim and to at least or near a substantialpart of the neck rim.

1. Garment for wearing a breast prosthesis comprising: a) a torso front panel forming a front side of the garment; b) a torso back panel forming a back side of the garment; and c) at least a first pocket for receiving the prosthesis; the front torso panel and the back torso panel having a substantially similar shape and being connected at a first side, a second side, a first top side and a second top side, thus forming: d) a body opening at the bottom; e) a right arm opening at a first side having a right arm rim around the right arm opening; (f) a left arm opening at a first side having a left arm rim around the left arm opening; and g) a neck opening at the top having a neck rim around the neck opening; the first pocket being located at a first half of the front panel ranging from a first side of the front panel towards the middle of the front panel and the first pocket being connected to the front panel at or near at least a substantial part of an arm rim available at the first half of the front panel and to at least or near a substantial part of the neck rim available at the first half of the front panel.
 2. Garment according to claim 1, wherein the first pocket comprises a) a first pocket front panel; and b) a first pocket back panel; wherein the first pocket front panel is connected to the first pocket back panel over at least a substantial part of c) a bottom side of the first pocket front panel and the first pocket rear panel; d) a first pocket side located at or near the middle of the front panel; e) a second pocket side located at the side of the front panel; f) a first top side located at or near an arm rim available at the first half of the front panel; and g) a second top side located at or near the neck rim available at the first half of the front panel.
 3. Garment according to claim 2, wherein the first pocket front panel is attached to the first pocket rear panel at the same location of the first pocket where the first pocket is connected to the front panel at the first top side and/or the second top side.
 4. Garment according to claim 4, wherein the first pocket front panel is attached to the first pocket rear panel by the same seam with which the first pocket is connected to the front panel at the first top side and/or the second top side.
 5. Garment according to claim 1, further comprising a band of elastic material at or below the bottom of the first pocket that when the garment is worn by a user is located around the torso of the user.
 6. Garment according to claim 1, further comprising an inner rear panel connected to the rear panel at or near a) the left arm rim available at the rear panel; b) the right arm rim available at the rear panel; and c) the neck rim available at the rear panel; The inner rear panel being further connected to the first pocket at the side of the garment below the arm rim available at the first half of the front panel.
 7. Garment according to claim 1, wherein the first pocket comprises an opening located at a lower part of the first arm rim.
 8. Garment according to claim 1, further comprising a second pocket being located a second half of the front panel ranging from a second side of the front panel towards the middle of the front panel and the second pocket being connected to the front panel at or near at least a substantial part of an arm rim available at the second half of the front panel and to at least or near a substantial part of the neck rim available at the second half of the front panel.
 9. Garment according to claim 1, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are formed in a single piece of fabric.
 10. Garment according to claim 1, wherein the first pocket comprises at a first side of the pocket adjacent to the front panel a layer a resilient material.
 11. Garment according to claim 8, wherein the resilient material is one of the following: a) foam; and/or b) rubber
 12. Inset for a garment for wearing a breast prosthesis comprising: a) a back panel; b) a first front panel; c) a second front panel being aligned with the first front panel and connected to the first panel at the extremities of the front panels and the middle of the front panels by at least one seam; The ensemble of the first front panel and the second front panel being connected to the back panel at a first side, a second side, a first top side and a second top side, thus forming: d) a body opening at the bottom; e) a right arm opening at a first side having a right arm rim around the right arm opening; f) a left arm opening at a first side having a left arm rim around the left arm opening; g) a neck opening at the top having a neck rim around the neck opening; wherein the seam is interrupted at a first location near the bottom of the right arm rim and at a second location near the bottom of the left arm rim to provide a first opening and a second opening, respectively, for receiving the breast prosthesis.
 13. Inset for a garment for wearing a breast prosthesis according to claim 12, further comprising a band of elastic material at the bottom of the inset that when the garment is worn by a user is located around the torso of the user. 